Just because the weather is turning cooler there is no reason to stay inside. With the change of seasons comes a change in the rhythm of outdoor recreational opportunities in our area.

These cooler temperatures and the changing season can provide perfect times for some fresh outdoor activities and there is just about nothing that will boost your mood faster than a bright blue sky, the crunch of leaves beneath your feet, and a nice shot of endorphins. So take advantage of the beautiful weather, and perfect temps for a hike. Get out there and take a few deep breaths and soak up fall. The gym will wait.

You can feast your eyes across the area where Mother Nature is turning up the volume on Fall colors. Okay, it is not the northeast but with cooler temperatures, a break in the humidity, our Fall foliage is at its finest.

The fact is autumn is a spectacular time to get outdoors with your family and friends. So why not?

Take a hike! Whether you walk in your neighborhood park, take a drive into the country or plan a bigger hiking excursion, there is no easier way to become one with nature than on your own two feet.

Go on a family bike ride. Be sure to bring the camera – now’s the perfect time to snap your holiday photo.

Picnic in the park. For an inexpensive outing, pack a picnic and head to your favorite park, maybe even try a park you have never been to, or even area lake parks, where you can take your favorite outdoor game like frisbee or football for a friendly family match-up. Take a large cardboard box and slide down the hills at North Lakes Park – remember the fun of being a kid again and your kids will love every minute of it.

Remember too that we have some great nature areas around to bring you and the Fall season together. Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA) a nature area to our south has some tremendous outdoor activities and is perfect for Fall fun. Some of their upcoming activities include a Bird Walk on November 10th, A Nature Walk on November 10th, Kayak down the Elm Fork on November 17th and a Fall Night Hike on November 30th. Some of these require registration so check out the website: ias.unt.edu/llela. LLELA areas provide us with acres and acres to explore and endless opportunities for outdoor adventure.

All you need to do is just choose your mode of transport and fun (trail shoes, bike, kayak, canoe, etc.) and start exploring. You just might Fall in love with the experience.

The Downtowner is a full service salon which includes twenty-two private suites consisting of hairstylists, nail technicians and skin therapist and massage therapy. Meet the ladies of The Downtowner:

Kayla Floyd has been in the hair business for over a decade. She is a Toni & Guy
trained stylist specializing in cut and color for the whole family.

Beth Heffernan is a Texas transplant, originally from the east coast, and has been in the hair business for twelve years specializing in color and special occasion up-dos. She is a sweet and sassy gal with a passion for all things artistic, music, food and beauty.

Give the Gift of massage this year! With a combined twenty-five years experience, the massage therapists at Downtowner Massage are sure to bless your clients, friends, and family. Sixty, ninety, and one hundred twenty minute sessions are available. Cindy, Angela and Jessica look forward to seeing you. Angela Huffhines has been practicing massage for eleven years with the intention of improving the lives of others through the healing power of touch. Swedish, deep tissue, pre-natal, and especially senior massage are her areas of expertise. Today, massage is no longer just for the pampering, but part of a heathy lifestyle.

Acne is the most common skin disorder in the United States and affects 40 to 50 million Americans. An estimated 85% of people will have acne at some point in their lives. So what’s the cause of this highly prevalent problem? There are 3 main factors: comedones + infection + inflammation.

Let me explain. Our face, chest, and back are covered in small hair follicles with attached oil-producing glands. Excess oil and dirt can build up and clog these hair follicle openings (or pores), forming little plugs called “comedones” which are commonly referred to as blackheads and whiteheads. These comedones trap bacteria in the base of the hair follicles, leading to an infection. This triggers immune cells to gather around the hair follicle to try to fight the infection and in the process creates inflammation, forming pus-filled pimples and deep painful cysts. Squeezing a pimple can rupture the follicle, which leads to even more inflammation. Some young women have acne that’s further driven by a 4th factor: hormones. Clues to this include acne that flares badly with periods and acne predominantly located along the chin and jawline.

So what can you do to keep acne at bay? Some simple steps include washing your face at least twice a day, using only “oil free” or “non-comedogenic” cosmetic products, and especially resisting the urge to pick at your skin, which can not only worsen inflammation but can lead to scarring. Using over-the-counter products containing salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide can be helpful in clearing up mild acne. However, for acne that becomes moderate to severe, it might be time to seek the expert help of a dermatologist. He or she can examine your skin and prescribe medications specifically tailored to your needs that target all the causes of acne. Comedones can be reduced and prevented by topical retinoids such as tretinoin, adapalene, or tazarotene. Infection can be prevented with topical antibiotics such as clindamycin, erythromycin, dapsone, and benzoyl peroxide. Deep inflammatory acne may require taking pills like doxycycline, and large inflamed cysts can be rapidly improved (before they cause a scar) with injections of steroid medication. For women with hormonally-driven acne, we can often help with medicines like birth control pills and/or spironolactone.

What about people who have severe or treatment-resistant acne? It might be time to consider isotretinoin, also known as Accutane. This medicine is definitely a commitment: it has to be taken for several months and requires careful monitoring. However, when it’s used properly and safely, it can be extremely effective at treating even the most severe acne. For more information and personalized help, visit your local dermatologist.

North Texas Horse Country Tour

November 3rd
Wind your way through the beautiful Horse Country of North Texas! Go behind-the-scenes at two premiere Horse Ranches. Enjoy a Chuck Wangon BBQ lunch and music. Observe an exclusive Equine Presentation, all in the comfort of a Luxury Motorcoach. Meet at the Historical Park at 9 am, and return at 3 pm. Tickets are $40 and need to be purchased via the Denton CVB. Call 940-382-7895 if interested.

Holiday Open House Weekend

November 10th – 11th | Downtown Denton
Shop and dine around as more than 20 stores and restaurants feature new holiday merchandise, specials, refreshments and a festive atmosphere to kick-off the holiday season. Beat the hustle and bustle and start on your list early as you relax, shop and dine in downtown Denton. Stores open 10 am to
6 pm on Saturday and 1 pm to 5 pm on Sunday (store hours and participation may vary).

Reindeer Romp

December 7th | South Lakes Park
4.2-Mile Run and 2.5-Mile Walk
Enjoy the holiday season while enjoying a fun run or walk through the lovely neighborhood of South Lakes Park. Check-in will begin at 6:30 pm, and the run and walk will begin at 7:30 pm. The entry fee includes a T-shirt (sizes S-XL; $2 extra for an XXL), snacks, and beverages.

While you participate in Reindeer Romp, we will entertain your kids! From 7 to 8:30 pm, activities will include a giant bounce house, face painting, and crafts. (If the temp falls below 38o, we will not host the fun zone)

The Nutcracker

December 7th – 9th | TWU Margo Jones Auditorium
The Festival Ballet of North Central Texas is a vibrant company with a broad reach. Now in its 25th year of production, Festival Ballet’s The Nutcracker has become a holiday tradition in Denton. The aim of the Festival Ballet is to provide a professional, quality performing experience for its 200-plus cast members and its 5,000-plus audience members. Performances are: Friday December 7th at 7:30 pm, Saturday December 8th at 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm, and Sunday December 9th at 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm. Visit www.festivalballet.net for more information and to purchase tickets.

It’s a Wonderful Life

December 8th – 16th | Campus Theatre
The holiday classic about George Bailey, an angel named Clarence, and what would happen to Bedford Falls if George hadn’t been around to make the sacrifices and extend a helping hand to its residents.

There is growing concern over the effects that gasoline-ethanol blends (like E10—that’s 90 percent gasoline and 10 percent ethanol) might have on small, non-road engines. Our mowers, tractors, weed eaters, trimmers, leaf blowers chainsaws, power washers and other outdoor power equipment need winterizing to protect the investment we have in all those equipment pieces.

These types of equipment will sit for a good while over the fall and winter, so removing the remaining fuel from the tank and then emptying the carburetor bowl before you stow gear for the winter is a fairly simple and smart project to help keep your gear in good working condition.

Even if you’ve run your equipment dry as part of your usual end of season maintenance steps, some fuel can remain in the bowl of the carburetor so be sure to empty that bow too. If you don’t, you might see some of the telltale white residue and related corrosion associated with the ethanol blends. Four-cycle engines in particular seem prone to the buildup, although two-cycle engines can also suffer from the problem.

To empty the carburetor bowl in your mower:
Run the engine dry, and then let the machine completely cool. Locate the carburetor bowl. It’s a cylindrically shaped device with one or two bolts on the bottom. If there are two bolts, the off-center one is a drain, which you can use to get rid of any fuel without removing the bowl; just place a container beneath the carburetor and remove the bolt. Any fuel remaining will trickle out.

On some engines the single bolt is for removing the carburetor bowl itself. On those, while holding a container beneath, remove the bolt, pull off the bowl, and drain it. Wipe out the inside of the bowl. Whether or not you need to remove the bowl, it’s a simple task to drain it and tighten everything back up. If you decide not to remove the gas, at the very least add fuel stabilizer and a few ounces of oil.

While you are at it, take a quick look over the piece of equipment for loose bolts worn or near broken pieces for replacement. And hose it down to soften dried grasses and dirt; scrape off any stubborn materials. Rinse, and allow to dry thoroughly.

Clean or replace your air filter: replace paper filters or if it is foam, remove it and wash it in warm, soapy water and let it dry thoroughly. If the filter is plastic foam, remove it and wash it in warm, soapy water; allow it to dry thoroughly; and once it’s dry, work a tablespoon or two of clean motor oil evenly across and into the filter – just enough to lightly coat it.

You can be ready for your next season without a lot of frustration of equipment that won’t start when you do.